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' 2 Sheet sSheet 1. O. L. TRAVIS.

Knot-Tying Device for Grain-Binders.

Patented Sept. 2,1879

0. NJETERS. FHOTO-LITMOGRAPHER, WASNKNGTON. B

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. L. TRAVIS. y Knot-Tying Device for Grain-Binders.

Patented Sept. 2,1879.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.GHARLES L. TRAVIS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO MINNE- APOLIS PAPER GRAIN BINDER COMPANY.

IMPROVEMENT -lN KNOT-TYING DEVICES FOR GRAIN-BINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 219,187, dated September 2, 1879; application filed December 27, 1878.

provements in Knot-Tying Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

Various attempts have hitherto been made to produce practical cord-tying devices, and

in the course of such attempts rotary heads,

farms, and clam 'iing-jaws have been made in a great variety of forms; but all were found to possess some imperfection, some being too complicated, others uncertain in their action, and all of them incapable of tying a knot tightly close to the bundle of grain, so as to prevent the expansion of the latter when the devices released the cord.

In practice, it is necessary that the band shall be applied tightly and under considerable tension to thegrain, and that aloosening of the band to the extent of one or two inches will frequently result in the escape of the grain.

The main object of my invention is therefore to produce a device which, while, being 'simple and positive in action, will fasten the knot tightly against the grain.

To this end the invention consists in a rotary head provided with a rigid arm and a positively-acting laterally-movable arm, there being a space between the arms to admit of the cord slipping down freely to the point, and a lip on the end of the movable arm to draw the ends of the cord through the loop in completing the knot.

Figures 1 to 5 are perspective views, illustrating my device and the cord thereon. during the different steps or stages in the formation of the knot; Fig. 6, alongitudinal central section of the device; Fig. 7, a plan view of the same.

A represents a rotary head, having at or near its outer enda rigid outwardly or radially extending arm, B, which is curved backward in the plane of its rotation, and rounded on the inner side in order that it may be e11- circled by the shortest possible length of cord. At the junction of the head and arm the former is recessed or cut inward, as shown at a, Figs. 6 and 7, which is for the purpose of permitting the cord to draw inward as nearly as possible to the axis of the head, so as to reduce to the smallest possible limit the amount or length of cord wound. upon the head by its rotation.- From the recess or depression a the head is beveled orrounded off toward its outer end and toward the heel of arm B, as shown at I), in order to facilitate the passage of the v loop which is formed around the head and arm onto the latter. a

0 represents a second arm or jaw, arranged outside ot',and corresponding in form to arm B, and secured at its inner end by a transverse pivot, 0, within a groove or mortise in the end of the head, in the manner shown, so that it may be closed up parallel with the arm B, or swung outward therefrom, as shown inFig; 3.

At its extreme end the arm 0 is provided on its inner side with a lip or stud, cl, to bear against the arm B, and the two arms are so constructed that when closed together so that the lip bears against arm B a space, 6, exists between them sufficiently Wide to admit of the cord playing freely between them.

On the spindle or shaft of the rotary head A there is mounted a sliding collar, D, conv nected by the pivoted rod E to the rear'end of the arm or jaw O, for the purpose of causing the same to open and close. The sliding mo tion of the collar, which rotates with the shaft, is secured by providing itwith an irregular flange or cam, F, the edge of which passes between two fixed studs, f, as represented.

In arranging the device for use suitable devices will, of course, be provided for presenting, guiding, and holding the cord and as the cord requires to be carried transversely across the path of the arms, the entire device shown will be arranged to move endwise at the proper time, or the cord guide arranged to move transversely in relation to the path of the arms.

The operation of the device is as follows: The head A receiving a continuous rotary motion in the direction indicated by the arrows, the arm 0 opens outward from arm B when they are in an upright position, and so remains until they have completed about half a revolution and extend downward, when the arm 0 closes, and remains closed against arm B until they again reach .the upright position. The two-ends of the cordor band are first extended downward past the head A, against the inner or rear side of the rigid arm, and then, by moving the tying device to the left or bending the'cord to the right, it is carried across the two arms, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the first rotation of the head and arms causes the cord to slide over the end of the head and form a loop encircling the arms, as shown. When this loop is formed the arm 0 opens, and, as the rotation continues, the lower ends of the cord below the head enter between the two arms, which close upon them, as representedin Fig. 4c, the ends extending across the middle of the loop, which still encircles thearms.

As the rotation of the parts continues and the second revolution completed, the arms draw. out of the loop, which slides off over their ends, theends-of the cord being meanwhile retained by thearmsand drawn through the loop, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby completin g theknot. The arms retain theirhold upon the cord :until the knot is;d-rawn,.or close when they open and release the cord. The device may be arranged to leave a bow-knot, as shown, or to pull the ends completely through the loop, as preferred.

The curvature of the .arms in the manner shown is advantageous, in, that it permits the loop to escape .more easily, and, in that it admits of the arms being used in contact with or in close .proximity to the grain without danger of becoming entangled therewith.

The arms may be used to good advantage in actual contact with the grain, in which case the grain will facilitate the passage of the loop from the arms. The construction of the arms so, as .to leave the space between them when 'closed,.and the arrangement of the retaining finger .or lip at the extreme ends of the arms, are of the'greatest importance,since theyadmit of the knot being tied close to the to either of said features separately considered.

It will be noticed that my devices combine the several features of the backwardly-curved arms, the retaining-lip at the extreme end of the arms, the open space between the arms, and the positively-acting-devices to control the arms in ,all of their movements. This combination secures the formation of the loop by a positive action, causes the cord to be retained and the knot to be drawn tight by the action of the arms, and secures the automatic delivery of the loop from the arms without theaid of the usual clearing or stripping devices employed in this class of tyers. The backward curvature of the arms When they are provided with the retaiiiingdip at the end and the beveling'ot' the outerside of the head at the base or inner end of the arms are of great importance, since they cause the loop. to

formation of a large loop and the slackening of the band in taking thesame up is avoided.

The hinging of theouter arm or jaw to the head, instead of arrangingit to slide outward, asusual, isadvantageous, in that it permits the free end to be. thrown outward a great distaueebya slight movement of the actuating-devices, and in that ,the inclination of the arm, whenopen, causes the cord to ride more readilyand smoothly to its place at the center.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The knotting device consisting of the rotary head provided with the two lateral arms, said arms being curved backward in the path of rotation, and provided-at the extreme end with the cord-retainin g lip, as shown, whereby the loop is caused to pass automatically from the armsand the cord drawn through the lip with a ,positivezaction at the same time.

2. The. combination of the head A, rigid arm B,pivoted arm 0, bar E, and collar. D,wit-h camF, and cam-.bearin gs f.

- CHAS. L. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

P. T. DODGE, DON-N LTWITOHELL. 

